Author: Enestina GhanaMPs

The Minister designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim has served notice of working together with relevant stakeholders to improve the economy of the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.

Responding to question at his vetting, the Minister designate stated that the property rate collection would be one of the fastest and easiest ways to help drive the finances of MMDAs to champion development.

He noted that since 2009 when he entered parliament successive ministers of the sector have had reason to complain about property rate, and tour of about 154 MMDAs by the Committee of Local Government in Parliament identified property rate as one critical area, “ the low hanging fruits” to look at to improve the funding of the MMDAs.

He expressed delight that the centralized system adopted of the previous administration which then give back just a portion to the MMDAs has been reversed since the practice was seen to be ineffective.

As such when given the node, “it is an area to focus on with the involvement of chiefs, Members of Parliament, and practitioners to help achieve a better revenue for the assemblies to carry out their developments.

The Minister designate who admits that one of the core functions of the MMDAS is the development of the local economy also stated that he would work with previous ministers of the sector to come up with strategies and policies to support vision of the President to improve upon the local economy of in every district using comparative natural advantages of the various districts.

“We will work together to improve the local economic development of the MMDAs, and I said based on their economic comparative resource endowed advantages.”

Ghanamps.com

The Minority leader, Mr Alexander Afenyo Markin has accused the President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama of not following the acceptable means of communicating to Parliament and that amounts to a breach of Parliamentary procedure.

He explained that, the letter which was sent to Parliament introducing the three ministerial nominees for Finance, Energy and Attorney General and Minister for justice failed to follow the official procedure and therefore see such communication as problematic.

Mr Afenyo Markin made these comments when the Appointment Committee was about to engage the first nominee, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson for vetting.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanaps.com

The list of the first batch of President John Dramani Mahama’s Ministers designate has been announced by the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin on the floor of the House on Thursday, January 9, 2025.

All three nominees coincidentally happen to be members of parliament and their expertise in the various portfolios they have been assigned to is not in doubt.

They include Majority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister designate for finance, Dr. Dominic Ayini; Minister designate for Attorney General and Minister for Justice; and John Jinapor, Minister designate for Energy.

These appointees are not new to these ministries having once served as deputies in those Ministries under the previous Mahama administration.

Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is currently the Majority Leader in Parliament having led his side as the Minority Leader in the 8th Parliament.

Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson is an Economist, Chartered Accountant, and Tax Practitioner with extensive experience in public finance, macroeconomics, fiscal policy, tax policy, and business management.

A five-term lawmaker, Dr Forson holds a PhD in Finance from the Kwame Nkrumah.

The Speaker has thus referred the nominees to the Appointment Committee for consideration and to report back to the House.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

At the second sitting of the first meeting of the first session of the ninth parliament, a lot of Members of Parliament were confused on the entrance to use to get to their seats in the chamber.

On Wednesday, January 8, 2025 most of the MPs on the Majority side of the House who not long ago where in the Minority in the 8th were still using the Minority entrance.

When Ghanamps.com caught up with most of the Majority MPs, it came out that they were using the wrong entrance and they pointed out that having used the entrance for the past eight years that was bound to happen.

The situation was not different from the now Minority MPs who used to be in the Majority in the 8th Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Rt. Hon Speaker, Alban Sumana Bagbin on his part announced to the MPs that with the current configured Parliament, the bio of MPs are captured to address issue of absenteeism, a departure from the previous 8th Parliament where they had to register in an attendance book.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin has taken objection to Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin calling his side “Micro-Minority” and pointed out it has no space in their Standing Orders.

“Our caucus protests that description and it is sad that when we are on our feet, our colleagues from the Majority are cutting our microphone off”.

Again from today, no one should describe us as Micro-Minority and Mr. Speaker we are saying you should protect us because we voted for you to become Speaker and our side were promoting you to be re-elected, he said.

When MPs from the Majority side wanted to respond to that the Rt. Hon Speaker noted that it is not open for debate, and the rules do not allow that and it is the Minority Leader who misled him.

“But do you say, Speaker should not use Micro- Minority but your leaders can use it?”, He teased.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh has appealed to his colleagues to be a little more patient especially those who did not see their names on the first three committees constituted in the 9th Parliament, including Appointment, Business and Selection Committees.

According to him, usually whips from both sides of the House come under attack and pressure when colleagues do not see their names. “We become punching bags; thankfully the report says the Rt. Hon. Speaker chairs the Committee on selection”.

He commended the House for the prompt response in the composition of the first three committees to kick start composition of the other committees.

This is just the binging; there are more committees to be composed, we have to appeal to our colleagues that it is too early in the day. This is just three out of the lot, they are to set the tone for all the other committees to be composed for work to go ahead; there is no course for worry, he stated.

“If you do not see your name among the three committees, do not worry, your names will find expression, bearing in mind that the standing orders makes it clear that every member should belong to one select and standing committee and it is also important because the whips are working on other matters we consider very important matters.”

He noted that office allocations which are very critical, as well as where MPs will lay their heads, and we will expect the Majority leader to show leadership in this matters; our back benchers and members need a place to lay their heads, he emphasized.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The lists of members of the Appointment Committee to vet President John Dramani Mahama’s nominees are set and ready to begin work.

They are:
Majority
• Hon Bernard Ahiafor – First Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Committee,
• Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah – Vice chair of the Committee
• Kwame Governs Agbodza,
• Mahama Ayariga,
• Agnes Naa Momo Lartey,
• Shaibu Mahama and
• Alhassan Umar.

Minority
• Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin – Ranking Member of the Committee
• Patricia Appiagyei – Deputy Ranking
• Annoh-Dompreh and
• Patrick Yaw Boamah.

Meanwhile, the revised Standing Orders make room for leadership of the sector Committee that has oversight of a Ministry to join the Appointment Committee in vetting, when a Nominee from the sector appears before the Appointment Committee.

The membership of the three committees, Appointment, Business and selection Committees are re-composed on the ration of 183:88 as contained in the report presented on the floor of the House and approve by the House.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapen North, Sammi Awuku has said their side, the Minority will be a very effective, resilient and very formidable side in the 9th Parliament.

According to him it’s very clear that Ghana’s democracy has come of age looking at the level of civility and friendliness that exist among MPs, and despite the fact that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) might be small, they will achieve a lot in the coming days.

Also the unity among us will be our strength. We are resolved just as our leaders in 1997, when they were just 61 MPs against 133 MPs from the NDC side, we did rise to the occasion, we worked hard and with determination and courage we were able to move beyond our barriers and recaptured our lost grounds, he said in an interview.

He noted that from all the meetings his side has had so far with our leadership in the minority and our resolve, “I am very confident that the NPP will give a very good account of itself, and myself I promise to be an effective member of the minority where we going to hold government accountable to its promises.”

“Again, we will scrutinize government’s policies and budget, so we are going to work effectively.”

As to what his constituents should expect from him as a first time MP, he noted that he will work both effectively on the floor of the House and in the interest of his constituents.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

President John Dramani Mahama has officially taken his oath of office as the president of Ghana.

He was sworn into office alongside his Vice President, Professor Jane Nana Opoku Agyeman, the first female Vice President of Ghana by the Chief Justice of the Republic Getrude Torkornoo on the 7th of January 2025 at the Black Star Square (Independence Square) in Accra.

This is the beginning of his second reign at the presidency having led the country from 2013 to 2016 when he failed in his attempt to renew his mandate with the people of Ghana.

Even before winning his first bid, he was compelled by circumstances to take over from Professor John Evans Atta Mills who he (John Mahama) was Vice to in 2012 when the president died while still serving his term.

President Mahama has since been trying his comeback having contested all presidential elections until lack shines on him in the 2024 election which gave him victory.

He received an overwhelming endorsement from the people of Ghana at the 2024 polls, beating his closest contender the incumbent Vice President and presidential candidate on the ticket of the ruling government with over one-point-seven votes.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by high profile delegations from across the world especially neighbouring countries including heads of state, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations, who were present to lend their supports.

The president in his inaugural speech promises to offer the needed hope to the people of Ghana, creating the needed atmosphere for economic development where businesses can flourish and create the needed employment for the people.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

The planned registration of newly elected Members of Parliament for the 9th Parliament of Ghana has been indefinitely postponed due to delays in the Electoral Commission’s (EC) transmission of the list of duly elected Members of Parliament following the December 2024 general elections.

Originally set for Monday, December 23, 2024 the registration was intended to initiate preparations for the new parliamentary session. However, the EC’s failure to meet the deadline has caused a disruption.

Parliament’s Secretariat issued a statement confirming the postponement, citing the absence of the certified list of MPs-elect from the EC as the primary reason.

Ghanamps.com saw some newly elected MPs going to National Investment Bank to open accounts whiles others use the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Parliament.

In a related development, Ghanamps.com saw MPs who could not retain their seats packing out of their offices.

While those who decided not to come back to the House on their own were also seen packing out.

Ghanamps.com